Garbage can dolly



March 21, 1967 D. D. NAGEL GARBAGE CAN DOLLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 5, 1965 FIGQ FICLZ arch 21, 1967 D. D. NAGEL 3,310,318

GARBAGE CAN DOLLY Filed March 3, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 {Vimch 21, 1967 D. D. NAGEL 331G318 GARBAGE CAN DOLLY Filed March 5, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent This invention relates to a dolly which can be securely attached to a cylindrical container to make the container transportable.

Garbage cans when filled are often quite heavy and are difficult for the housewife to move any distance. Various types of carriers have been developed to transport garbage cans. One of the most common has been a cart on which the garbage can is positioned. In order to maintain the can stable during movement, the can is usually provided with can sup-porting rails. Therefore, it is necessary to lift the can straight up sufliciently high to clear the rails. This movement is undesirable, particularly if the can is heavily loaded.

To overcome such difiicul-ty, it is desirable that the carrier by attached directly to the garbage can. However, since garbage cans are usually stacked for shipment and storage, no outward protrusions are permitted. One way of overcoming this objection is to have a carrier which can be easily and securely attached to the garbage can by the homeowner.

However, since the dolly adds to the overall weight of the garbage can, it is desirable that the dolly be relatively light. However, due to the rough handling that garbage cans usually receive, it is necessary that a dolly for garbage cans be very rugged in construction.

It is further desirable that a garbage can dolly does not interfere with the usual method of handling and lifting the garbage cans. Therefore, the dolly should not be so cumbersome that it is difiicult to handle and lift the garbage can.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a lightweight, rugged dolly which may be securely attached to a garbage can in a facile manner.

Another object is to provide a dolly which may be securely attached to a garbage can and is capable of withstanding rough handling.

A further object is to provide an improved garbage can dolly which in addition to providing an extra handle for handling, permits use of the normally provided for handles.

A more specific object is to provide a garbage can dolly formed of sheet metal strapping and stampings which is economical to manufacture, easy to install and rugged in construction.

To accomplish the above objects and other objects which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the garbage can dolly of the present invention is comprised of a pair of straps which securely attach the dolly to the basal portion of the garbage can. Attached to one of the straps is a pair of container supporting brackets which in addition to being attached to the strap, also stabilizes the can. An axle extends through the brackets. \Positioned on each end of the axle is a wheel which provides the portability. If desirable, an auxiliary handle may be provided which will aid in handling the can and provide additional support for the axle.

Preferred embodiments of the invention have been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and are shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the dolly attached to the garbage can.

'FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the can in position for transport.

FIG. 3 is a half top view of the dolly with portions in section for purposes of clarity.

3,310,318 Patented Mar. 21, 1967 "ice FIG. 4 is an end view showing the dolly and a portion of the garbage can.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the container supporting bracket showing how it is attached to the bottom of the can.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 of an alternate form of supporting bracket.

'FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of an alternate form.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of the alternate form shown in FIG. 7.

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown a dolly 10 attached to the basal portion of a garbage can or cylindrical container 12.

The dolly 10 is comprised of a container engaging portion 14, a pair of container supporting brackets 16 18, a handle member 20, an axle 22 which passes through the brackets 16-18 and handle member 20, and a pair of wheels 24.

As can be seen by FIG. 3, the container engaging portion 14 is formed of a pair of metal straps 26 and 28. The strap 26 forms an arc of approximately degrees and the strap 28 forms an arc of approximately 270 degrees. Each end of each strap 2628 is provided with an outturned flange 30 which is provided with an aperture 31. When the two straps 2648 encompass the basal portion of the container 12, the apertures 31 from the two straps 2628 are in mating relation.

Centered on the strap 26 is the handle member 20, which is generally U-shaped, having a pair of legs 32- 32. A pair of flanges 34-34 extend outwardly from the ends of the legs 32-452. The flanges 3434 are secured to the strap 26. Each leg 32 is provided with an aperture 36, the centers of which are coaxial. The inner edge of each aperture 36 is located on a line normal to a centerline extending through the dolly 10 and bisecting the handle member 20, see FIG. 3. The axle 22 extends through the apertures 36 of the handle member 20 with the center portion of the axle 22 making contact with the first strap member 26.

Secured to each end of the first strap member 26 and attached to the axle 22 are the container supporting brackets 1618, one of each hand. Each bracket 16-18 has an axle receiving portion 40 which isprovided with an aperture 41 through which the axle 22 passes. Extending from the end of the axle receiving portion 40 is an angularly extending portion 42. The angularly extending portion of each bracket extends inwardly toward the center of the container 12. The plane of each angularly extending portion 42 mates with a plane extending through one of the outturned flanges 32 of the first strap member 26. The angularly extending portion 42 is provided with an aperture 44 which mates with the aperture 31 of the outturned flange 30. The end of each bracket 116 18 turns inward to conform to the contour of the first strap member 26 and forms the container supporting portion 46 of each bracket. The container supporting portion 46 constitutes a portion corresponding with the circumference of the container 12 and extends downward to the bottom of the container '12 where it terminates in a lip portion 48 engaging the bottom of the container 12. For metal containers having a bottom edge, the lip portion 48 may be upturned as shown in FIG. 5. For plastic containers having a fiat bottom, the lip portion may take the form shown in FIG. 6 which will engage the fiat bottom of the container. The brackets 1618 may be made out of sheet metal stampings.

The ends of the straps 26 and 28- are drawn tightly together by a paid of strap tightening means 50, so as to apply a load on the straps 26 and 28 thereby securely drawing them about the basal portion of the container. In order that the dolly does not become detached during handling, it is necessary that the straps tightly engage the container. A threaded member telescoped through each aperture 44 in the angular portion 42 of the brackets 16-18 and the aperture 31 in the flanges 30 of the straps 26-28 and fitted with a nut may be utilized as the strap tightening means 50. To attach the dolly to the container all that is necessary is to tighten the straps 26-28 by the strap tightening means 50.

Secured to each end of the axle 22 is a wheel 24- which provides the mobility for the container 12. As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 4, the wheels 24 are slightly above a plane passing through the bottom of the container 12 so that the container may set on its bottom without any load on the wheels. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the inner edge of the axle 22 to which the wheels 24 are attached is a line tangent to a centerline of the dolly. Therefore, the wheels 24 clear the sides of the container 12. To move the container 12 all that is necessary is to tilt it back on its wheels 24 and the container may then be easily pushed or pulled.

The handle member 20 acts as an extra handle in handling the container. Howeveer, if desired the handle 20 may be eliminated and the first strap formed as is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 where it is seen that the strap 60 has apertures 62-62 through which the axle extends.

As can be seen from the foregoing, the dolly of the present invention is economical to manufacture, easy to install, lightweight and rugged in construction.

I claim:

1. A dolly for attachment to a cylindrical container to make the container transportable, said dolly comprising:

a pair of metallic strap members, forming a circle encompassing the base portion of the container, the first of said straps forming an arc of approximately 90 degrees and the second strap forming an arc of approximately 270 degrees, the ends of each strap provided with outturned flanges which are provided with mating apertures;

21 pair of spaced apertures in the first strap member, each one spaced a short distance from the center of the strap;

an axle, extending through the spaced apertures in the first strap member;

a pair of container supporting brackets, each bracket having an aperture receiving the axle, an angularly extending portion extending from the axle receiving portion mating with an outturned flange of the first strap member, an aperture in the angularly extending portion mating with the aperture in the outturned flange of the first strap member;

a container engaging portion approximately normal to the angular extending portion mating with a portion of the first strap member, an upturned flange engaging the bottom of the container;

a pair of wheels, one attached to each end of the axle;

a pair of strap tightening means, one telescoped through each set of mating apertures in the container engaging bracket, first strap member and second strap mem ber tightening the strap members tightly about the container.

2. A dolly for attachment to a cylindrical container to make the container transportable, said dolly comprising:

a pair of metallic strap members, forming a circle encompassing the base portion of the container, the first of said straps forming an arc of approximately 90 degrees, the second of said straps forming an arc of approximately 270 degrees, the ends of each strap provided with outturned flanges which are provided with mating apertures;

a generally U-shaped handle member having a flange extending outwardly from the end of each leg, the flanges securing the handle member to the first strap member, the legs of the handle member provided with a pair of matching apertures;

an axle, extending through the mating apertures in the legs of the handle member;

a pair of container supporting brackets, each of opposite hand, each bracket having an aperture receiving the axle, an angularly extending portion extending from the axle receiving portion mating with the outturned flange of the first strap member, an aperture in the angularly extending portion mating with aperture in an outturned flange of the first strap member, a container engaging portion approximately normal to the angular extending portion mating with a portion of the first strap member, a terminal portion engaging the bottom of the container;

a pair of wheels, one attached to each end of the axle;

a pair of strap tightening means, one telescoped through each set of mating apertures in the container engaging bracket, first strap member and second strap member tightening the strap members tightly about the container.

3. A dolly for attachment to a cylindrical container to make the container transportable, said dolly comprising:

a pair of metallic strap members forming a circle encompassing the basal portion of the container, the first of said straps forming an arc of approximately degrees and the second strap forming an arc of approximately 270 degrees, the ends of each strap i provided with outturned flanges which are provided with mating apertures;

a pair of container supporting brackets, each of opposite hand, each bracket having an aperture receiving the axle receiving portion mating with an outturned flange of the first strap member, an aperture in the angularly extending portion mating with aperture in the outturned flange of the first strap member, a container engaging portion approximately normal to the angular extending portion mating with a portion of the first strap member;

a pair of wheels, one attached to each end of the axle;

a pair of strap tightening means, one telescoped through each set of mating apertures in the container engaging bracket, first strap member and second strap member tightening the strap members tightly about the container.

4. A dolly for attachment to a cylindrical container to make the container transportable, said dolly comprising:

a pair of metallic strap members, forming a circle encompassing the base portion of the container;

a pair of container supporting brackets, each of opposite hand, each bracket having an axle receiving aperture, =an angularly extending portion extending from the axle receiving portion, a container engaging portion approximately normal to the angular extending portion mating with a portion of the first strap member, a terminal portion engaging the bottom of the container;

an axle extending through the axle receiving aperture of the container supporting brackets,

a pair of wheels, one attached to each end of the axle;

and

means for tightening the strap members tightly about the container and securing the container supporting brackets to the first strap member.

5. A dolly for attachment to a cylindrical container to make the container transportable, said dolly comprising:

an axle;

a U-shaped handle, each leg of the handle having an aperture to receive the axle,

a flange on the end of each leg, the flanges forming a segmented portion of a circle adapted to encircle the container,

a pair of container supporting brackets, each bracket having an axle receiving portion having an aperture to receive the axle, an angularly extending portion extending from the axle receiving portion, an aper- 5 ture in the angularly extending portion, a container engaging portion approximately normal to the angularly extending flange and forming a segmented portion of a circle adapted to encircle the container, an upturned flange for engaging the bottom of the container,

a first metallic strap forming a segmented portion of a circle adapted to encircle the container attached to the flanges of the handle and overlying the flanges of the container supporting brackets, a flange at each end, the flanges overlying the angularly extending portion of the container supporting brackets, the flange having an aperture mating with the aperture in the angularly extending portion,

a second metallic strap as the remainder of the circle adapted to encircle the container, a flange at each end of the strap opposing the end flanges of the first strap and having apertures mating with the apertures 6 of the first strap, threaded members in the apertures, means engagable with the threaded members Ito bring the end flanges of the two straps together to permit the straps to tightly engage the container; a pair of wheels, one attached to each end of the axle having a radius approximately equal the downward extension of the end flange of the container supporting bracket.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,743,938 5/1956 Nash 280 -4113 2,904,345 9/1959 Bradley '280-47.13 2,953,387 9/1960 Portner 280 47.13

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

J. A' P'EKAR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DOLLY FOR ATTACHMENT TO A CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER TO MAKE THE CONTAINER TRANSPORTABLE, SAID DOLLY COMPRISING: A PAIR OF METALLIC STRAP MEMBERS, FORMING A CIRCLE ENCOMPASSING THE BASE PORTION OF THE CONTAINER, THE FIRST OF SAID STRAPS FORMING AN ARC OF APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES AND THE SECOND STRAP FORMING AN ARC OF APPROXIMATELY 270 DEGREES, THE ENDS OF EACH STRAP PROVIDED WITH OUTTURNED FLANGES WHICH ARE PROVIDED WITH MATING APERTURES; A PAIR OF SPACED APERTURES IN THE FIRST STRAP MEMBER, EACH ONE SPACED A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE CENTER OF THE STRAP; AN AXLE, EXTENDING THROUGH THE SPACED APERTURES IN THE FIRST STRAP MEMBER; A PAIR OF CONTAINER SUPPORTING BRACKETS, EACH BRACKET HAVING AN APERTURE RECEIVING THE AXLE, AN ANGULARLY EXTENDING PORTION EXTENDING FROM THE AXLE RECEIVING PORTION MATING WITH AN OUTTURNED FLANGE OF THE FIRST STRAP MEMBER, AN APERTURE IN THE ANGULARLY EXTENDING PORTION MATING WITH THE APERTURE IN THE OUTTURNED FLANGE OF THE FIRST STRAP MEMBER; A CONTAINER ENGAGING PORTION APPROXIMATELY NORMAL TO THE ANGULAR EXTENDING PORTION MATING WITH A PORTION OF THE FIRST STRAP MEMBER, AN UPTURNED FLANGE ENGAGING THE BOTTOM OF THE CONTAINER; A PAIR OF WHEELS, ONE ATTACHED TO EACH END OF THE AXLE; A PAIR OF STRAP TIGHTENING MEANS, ONE TELESCOPED THROUGH EACH SET OF MATING APERTURES IN THE CONTAINER ENGAGING BRACKET, FIRST STRAP MEMBER AND SECOND STRAP MEMBER TIGHTENING THE STRAP MEMBERS TIGHTLY ABOUT THE CONTAINER. 